More than five years after the enactment of Law 27.610, Fundeps presents a provincial report that systematizes progress, barriers, and good practices in access to voluntary and legal abortion in Córdoba. The report provides evidence produced in collaboration with healthcare teams and feminist activists, within a challenging national context for the protection of sexual and reproductive rights.
More than five years after the enactment of Law No. 27,610, which guarantees the right to voluntary and legal termination of pregnancy (IVE/ILE), effective access to safe abortion continues to face implementation challenges that require ongoing monitoring, evidence generation, and sustained strategies to strengthen public policy.
Within this framework, the Fundación para el Desarrollo de Políticas Sustentables (Fundeps) presents the study “Termination of Pregnancy in the Province of Córdoba: Progress and Challenges in the Implementation of Law No. 27,610,” which systematizes persistent barriers and good practices within the province’s public healthcare system.
This report is the result of research conducted between May and October 2025, aimed at identifying the real conditions of access to sexual and (non-)reproductive health services in Córdoba. Based on a participatory survey of healthcare providers, the study—carried out by Consuelo González Clariá in coordination with Fundeps’ Gender and Diversity Area—provides relevant information to improve service implementation and consolidate rights-based practices, particularly in adverse contexts.
The research adopted a mixed qualitative and quantitative approach. It included 80 surveys of healthcare workers across different departments and jurisdictions of the province, analyzed through non-probabilistic descriptive statistics, as well as five semi-structured interviews selected through purposive sampling. The survey was answered primarily by family or general medicine professionals (51.2%) and social workers (22.5%), and to a lesser extent by professionals in gynecology and obstetrics (11%) and psychology (7.5%). This reflects the interdisciplinary nature that the guarantee of abortion rights currently assumes within the public health system.
A Contextualized Diagnosis of Abortion Access in the Province
The findings show a sustained process of expansion and normalization of abortion services in the province. Termination of pregnancy—whether through misoprostol alone, the combined misoprostol and mifepristone regimen, or Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA)—is guaranteed at all levels of care, with regional variations.
Nearly 80% of respondents stated that the procedure is resolved within one or two consultations, reflecting simplified care processes and strengthened institutional pathways.
Challenges persist in the implementation of the instrumental MVA procedure, which remains concentrated in certain health centers with established experience, alongside some more recent experiences at the primary and secondary levels of care. Only 22% of respondents reported that MVA is performed at their institutions. The main obstacles include lack of technical training, supervised practice, coordination with emergency services, and the availability of adequate recovery space and restroom facilities.
Regarding institutional support for healthcare teams providing abortion services, significant differences were observed between the capital city and the rest of the province. In the city of Córdoba, most professionals reported receiving “considerable” (55%) or “strong” (25%) support to provide IVE services. In contrast, the interior of the province presents a more uneven scenario: 90% of responses were distributed almost evenly among “strong,” “considerable,” and “limited” support, with lower levels of support particularly in the northern and western regions.
Institutional conflicts are concentrated mainly in pharmacy, emergency, and gynecology departments. A notable good practice identified is administrative diligence, which helps build internal alliances and foster trust by associating IVE teams with values such as transparency and responsibility.
Interviews confirm that institutional recognition of abortion services was neither automatic nor linear. The knowledge, commitment, and legitimacy of teams were built over time through sustained training, interdisciplinary work, consensus-building, and accumulated institutional experience.
Precarious hiring conditions undermine team stability and service sustainability. While permanent positions are concentrated in the capital, primary care centers in the interior rely mainly on independent contractor arrangements (monotributo), which also contribute to burnout among those who guarantee this right daily.
Persistent Barriers and Good Practices Sustaining Access
Although progress is evident, the mapping identifies structural barriers that continue to shape access, especially outside the capital. More than half of respondents indicated that users face transportation-related difficulties (52%), followed by staff shortages (41%), and obstacles in obtaining appointments and broader economic constraints (33.8%).
In terms of available resources, only 20% reported difficulties accessing medications, with mifepristone identified as the most problematic supply, followed by misoprostol. When supplies are lacking, 50% suspend the procedure and refer the patient elsewhere, while 43% file a formal complaint. This situation is mitigated by the institutional decision of both the provincial government and the municipal government of Córdoba to guarantee access to the procedure despite national-level cuts in medication distribution. The presence of feminist networks within healthcare spaces, administrative structures, and civil society organizations also plays a fundamental role in ensuring access.
Slightly more than half of respondents received specific training in IVE, with marked regional disparities.
The study also revealed instances of mistreatment toward service users: one-third of professionals identified such situations in their health centers, although underreporting is possible.
Conversely, good practices are widely extended in care for children and adolescents. However, challenges remain in providing care to LGBTIQ+ populations and people with disabilities, linked to difficulties in sustaining interdisciplinary approaches under current labor conditions.
A Collective Process in a Challenging Context
The presentation of this report takes place within a restrictive national scenario marked by the weakening of public policies and reduced funding for civil society organizations. In this context, reaffirming the validity of Law 27,610 and ensuring its institutionalization beyond changing administrations is crucial. The State, at all levels, is obligated to guarantee timely, dignified, and quality access to voluntary termination of pregnancy and to actively remove the barriers that hinder it.
Today, implementation is sustained by a historical network of feminist collectives, grassroots activism, social organizations, and the commitment of healthcare teams.
On December 9, at the Museum of Anthropology of the National University of Córdoba (UNC), Fundeps presented preliminary findings at the event “Access to Abortion in Córdoba: Perspectives and Resources for Strengthening It.” The gathering brought together feminist activists, healthcare teams, public officials, and civil society organizations. Key findings were shared, along with a digital resource guide for healthcare teams—featuring rights-based guidelines, publications, and audiovisual materials—and a communication campaign aimed at young users to strengthen access to clear, reliable, and timely information.
Sustained Commitments from Fundeps
Through its Gender and Diversity Area, Fundeps worked intensively throughout 2025 to strengthen sexual and (non-)reproductive rights, even amid a deep crisis for social organizations. Key initiatives included the Second Provincial Meeting of Health Professionals: “Networks of Commitment and Care: MVA Practice in Córdoba and Access to Abortion for Children, Youth, and Diverse Communities,” as well as MVA training sessions for healthcare teams in Santa Rosa de Calamuchita, Mina Clavero, and Del Campillo, in coordination with the Directorate of Adolescence, Youth, and Adulthood.
Additionally, the organization continued promoting Comprehensive Sexual Education (ESI) through workshops with secondary-level teachers and students, in collaboration with the ESI Diploma Program at the Faculty of Philosophy and Humanities and in coordination with the Unión de Educadores de la Provincia de Córdoba (UEPC).
A self-paced virtual course on access to legal abortion in Córdoba has also been developed and will be available starting in March 2026.
This work would not have been possible without collaboration with the Comprehensive Health Clinic Team, the Directorate of Adolescence, Youth, and Adulthood, the ESI Diploma Program of the Faculty of Philosophy and Humanities, La Casita Trans, UEPC, and the daily commitment of feminist activists and healthcare teams who often guarantee access anonymously.
The report we present is one more tool to continue strengthening networks and building joint strategies to defend a hard-won right.
We invite activists, healthcare teams, social organizations, public officials, and all those committed to strengthening abortion rights to read, share, and use this report as a resource for collective action.
Guaranteeing access to abortion is not only about complying with the law—it is about sustaining, every day, a public policy grounded in social justice and human rights.
Author:
Carola Bertona, carolabertona@fundeps.org
Contact:
Romina Pezzelato, romina.pezzelato@fundeps.org
Call Open to Join a Collective Legal Action in Defense of the Right to Abortion
Since 2024, the National Government has failed to comply with its obligations to guarantee access to abortion rights for pregnant people across the country.
For this reason, a collective legal action is underway before Federal Civil, Commercial, and Administrative Court No. 2 of La Plata, demanding that the National Government fulfill its obligations regarding the supply and distribution of essential medication to ensure access to abortion services. The case was filed by the Asociación Civil La Ciega.
In this context, the court has ordered broad dissemination of the case and set a deadline for all individuals and organizations who consider themselves affected by the lack of supplies for accessing abortion services to come forward and participate in the proceedings. The call will remain open until March 28 of this year.
More information is available on the website of the National Judiciary, by entering the case number (Case No. FLP 1876/2025) in the “Case Search” section.
To receive guidance on how to participate or register your organization, you can contact the Center for Legal and Social Studies (CELS) team at consultas@cels.org.ar.
This is a new opportunity to take part and actively defend the implementation of Law 27,610 and the right to access abortion for all pregnant people in Argentina.
Contact:
Luz Baretta, luzbaretta@fundeps.org
Fundeps Appoints a New Director
Luciano holds a degree in Social Communication and has extensive experience in community communication, training, and human rights promotion. Throughout his professional career, he has worked with civil society organizations, educational institutions, and public bodies, bringing an approach that connects reflection and practice with a strong commitment to participation and the strengthening of community and civic engagement.
We are confident that his experience and his understanding of communication as a tool to advance rights will be a valuable contribution to this new stage of Fundeps, at a time that continues to present significant challenges for those working to defend human rights.
At the same time, we would like to express our deep gratitude to Mayca Balaguer and Eliana Juncos, who were a fundamental part of Fundeps for more than ten years and later served as Executive Director and Deputy Director, respectively.
During this time, their commitment and leadership were key to consolidating Fundeps’ institutional work, strengthening our team, and expanding our agendas in research, advocacy, and capacity-building. In a complex context, they were able to sustain and care for a collective project that continues to grow thanks to that shared journey.
We are deeply grateful for the work and dedication they brought to this organization over the years. We know they will continue contributing to the defense and advancement of human rights with the same experience, sensitivity, and conviction they demonstrated along this path.
Each stage brings new challenges as well as new opportunities. At Fundeps, we remain committed to collective work, building alliances, and advancing human rights as a path toward more just, equitable, and sustainable societies.
Civil Society Organizations and Communities Call for Respect for Rights at the IDB Annual Meeting in Asunción
Organizations that are part of the IDB Working Group will use the Assembly as an opportunity to hold meetings with Bank authorities, governments, and other stakeholders. Among the issues we seek to place on the agenda are the growing restrictions on civic space in the region, the risks associated with the commodification of nature, the role of the IDB in the Amazon, the development of regional infrastructure corridors, and the challenges of advancing a truly just energy transition.
Participation Agenda
During the week of the Assembly, we will participate in various dialogue and coordination activities.
On March 9, a workshop will be held with Paraguayan organizations, in collaboration with local groups such as Henoi, Sunu, Axial, and Climate Reality, to analyze the impacts of IDB-financed projects in the country and strengthen regional civil society coordination.
On March 10, a full-day working session with the Bank will take place to discuss its Civil Society Engagement Strategy and Action Plan.
On March 11, Suhayla Bazbaz, Director of Community Cohesion and Social Innovation (Mexico) and a member of the IDB Working Group, will participate in the IDB–Civil Society/Stakeholders Forum in the panel “The Importance of Multilateral Engagement with Civil Society Organizations: Challenges and Perspectives,” focused on the challenges of ensuring informed and meaningful participation of civil society in the Bank’s decision-making processes.
That same day, a meeting is scheduled with the Bank’s President, Ilan Goldfajn. These exchanges are part of an ongoing dialogue process that the working group has maintained with the IDB presidency in recent years. Dialogue sessions between the IDB and social organizations will also be held on the following topics: regional logistics corridors, the Amazonia Forever program, the new procurement policy, and restrictions on civic space.
Concerns Regarding the South Connection Program
Within the framework of the Assembly, we will present observations on the South Connection Regional Program for South American Connectivity (Conexión Sur in Spanish), an IDB initiative aimed at promoting regional corridors for transport, logistics, energy, and digital connectivity in South America.
While we recognize the importance of improving regional connectivity, the program’s current design poses social, environmental, and governance risks if substantial changes are not introduced.
The program prioritizes global competitiveness and integration into international value chains, with a strong emphasis on logistics corridors, ports, and energy transmission, while paying limited attention to territorial impacts, local economies, and the needs of the communities living in the areas where this infrastructure will be developed.
Without complementary local productive development strategies, the new corridors could reinforce economic patterns based on the export of raw materials and extractive activities, without generating substantial improvements in the quality of life of local populations.
IDB Project in Paraguay
The Bioceanic Road Corridor, financed by the IDB through a USD 200 million loan to the government of Paraguay, aims to connect the port of Santos in Brazil with ports in northern Chile, with the goal of facilitating international trade and improving access to markets in the country’s western region.
However, local organizations and communities have expressed concern about the lack of adequate consultation with Indigenous peoples such as the Ayoreo, as well as the project’s potential impacts. These could include displacement, loss of livelihoods, risks of gender-based violence, pressure on Indigenous territories, and damage to biodiversity in one of the most fragile areas of the Paraguayan Chaco.
Participation and Transparency
The working group has also expressed concern about the limited participation of civil society, Indigenous peoples, local communities, and Afro-descendant populations in the design of several of the Bank’s strategic initiatives, including Conexión Sur, the Amazonia Forever program, and the Biodiversity and Natural Capital Action Plan.
These processes have offered few opportunities for meaningful dialogue with the actors living in the territories where these initiatives will be implemented. In the case of the Biodiversity Plan, for example, organizations warn that despite references to inclusive approaches in the document, there were no substantive opportunities for exchange with these groups during its development.
Strengthening early participation, transparency, and accountability is key to improving the quality of the Bank’s policies and preventing socio-environmental conflicts.
In this context, part of the agenda will be dedicated to a dialogue with Bank teams to present an assessment of current trends in restrictions on civic space. We hope to share recommendations from civil society and learn about the concrete steps the Bank is taking to address these situations.
A Just Energy Transition
Finally, we will present our concerns regarding how the IDB is addressing the energy transition in the region. While we recognize the urgency of moving toward low-carbon energy systems, the Bank’s current approach continues to reproduce “business-as-usual” dynamics.
Among the main criticisms is the continued support for fossil fuel infrastructure, including the promotion of gas as a transition technology, as well as the expansion of mining and green hydrogen in the region without adequate processes for information sharing, consultation, and impact assessment. In response, we call on the IDB to prioritize social and environmental justice, strengthen the implementation of safeguards, guarantee the effective participation of affected communities, and develop an energy plan aligned with the Paris Agreement and human rights.
In a regional context marked by the climate crisis, socio-environmental conflicts, and shrinking civic space, transparency, public participation, and accountability are essential conditions to ensure that investments in infrastructure and energy truly contribute to sustainable development and the well-being of communities.
Contact
Gonzalo Roza, gon.roza@fundeps.org
More than 160 organizations are calling on Formula 1 to end tobacco and nicotine sponsorships
The Formula 1 ban on cigarette sponsorship ended in 2006. However, tobacco companies Philip Morris International (PMI) and British American Tobacco (BAT) are currently promoting nicotine pouches—one of their newest products—through Formula 1 team sponsorships. PMI sponsors the Ferrari team to promote its product Zyn, while BAT sponsors the McLaren team with its Velo brand. The logos appear prominently on the cars and on the racing suits of their star drivers, including 2025 world champion Lando Norris and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. These sponsorships are also widely promoted on social media to hundreds of millions of followers.
At the same time, Formula 1 has actively worked to expand its global youth audience, including recent partnerships with Disney, Lego, and Mattel’s Hot Wheels. These collaborations include the presence of Mickey Mouse and friends at F1 races, as well as exclusive Lego and Hot Wheels products aimed at children. According to Formula 1 itself, more than 4 million children aged 8 to 12 follow the sport in the European Union and the United States, while 54% of its TikTok followers and 40% of its Instagram followers are under 25.
“By sponsoring Formula 1 teams, tobacco companies are attempting to reach the same young audiences that F1 has sought to attract. Formula 1 must not be complicit in this strategy. To protect the health of its young fans, it is essential that F1 update its ban on cigarette sponsorships to include other tobacco and nicotine products, such as nicotine pouches,” states the letter addressed to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.
In separate letters, the organizations also urged the chief executives of Disney, Lego, and Mattel to join the call for Formula 1 to ban all forms of tobacco- and nicotine-related sponsorship.
“Tobacco companies seek to associate their brands with Formula 1 and its most recognizable drivers because they know that children and adolescents will see them,” said Yolonda C. Richardson, President and CEO of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “Promoting tobacco and nicotine products in the same spaces where Disney, Lego, and Hot Wheels are present is part of the industry’s ongoing strategy to attract new generations, while claiming that their products are only for adults. F1 must protect children and immediately end any ties with the tobacco industry, ensuring that it does not become a platform for promoting harmful and addictive products.”
Nicotine pouches pose significant health risks for younger generations. These products expose young people to high levels of nicotine, a highly addictive substance that can affect brain development—which continues until around age 25—and increase vulnerability to other addictions. In the United States, nicotine pouches are the only tobacco product whose youth use has increased in recent years.
The letter addressed to Formula 1 was signed by 162 organizations from 57 countries.
Contact
Maga Ailén Merlo Vijarra, magamerlov@fundeps.org
Abortion in Córdoba: Progress and Challenges in the Implementation of Law No. 27.610
The report presents the findings of a study aimed at identifying the conditions of access to Voluntary Termination of Pregnancy (IVE) within the public healthcare system of the province of Córdoba.Through a participatory survey of 80 healthcare providers who guarantee the service across 18 departments, the research examined team characteristics, conditions of access to legal abortion, the implementation of the Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) technique, the impact of the current context, and good practices in the care of specific populations.
The report serves as a key advocacy tool to strengthen access to safe abortion throughout the province.
Abortion Access in Córdoba: Progress and Ongoing Challenges in Implementing Law 27.610
More than five years after the enactment of Law No. 27,610, which guarantees the right to voluntary and legal termination of pregnancy (IVE/ILE), effective access to safe abortion continues to face implementation challenges that require ongoing monitoring, evidence generation, and sustained strategies to strengthen public policy.
Within this framework, the Fundación para el Desarrollo de Políticas Sustentables (Fundeps) presents the study “Termination of Pregnancy in the Province of Córdoba: Progress and Challenges in the Implementation of Law No. 27,610,” which systematizes persistent barriers and good practices within the province’s public healthcare system.
This report is the result of research conducted between May and October 2025, aimed at identifying the real conditions of access to sexual and (non-)reproductive health services in Córdoba. Based on a participatory survey of healthcare providers, the study—carried out by Consuelo González Clariá in coordination with Fundeps’ Gender and Diversity Area—provides relevant information to improve service implementation and consolidate rights-based practices, particularly in adverse contexts.
The research adopted a mixed qualitative and quantitative approach. It included 80 surveys of healthcare workers across different departments and jurisdictions of the province, analyzed through non-probabilistic descriptive statistics, as well as five semi-structured interviews selected through purposive sampling. The survey was answered primarily by family or general medicine professionals (51.2%) and social workers (22.5%), and to a lesser extent by professionals in gynecology and obstetrics (11%) and psychology (7.5%). This reflects the interdisciplinary nature that the guarantee of abortion rights currently assumes within the public health system.
A Contextualized Diagnosis of Abortion Access in the Province
The findings show a sustained process of expansion and normalization of abortion services in the province. Termination of pregnancy—whether through misoprostol alone, the combined misoprostol and mifepristone regimen, or Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA)—is guaranteed at all levels of care, with regional variations.
Nearly 80% of respondents stated that the procedure is resolved within one or two consultations, reflecting simplified care processes and strengthened institutional pathways.
Challenges persist in the implementation of the instrumental MVA procedure, which remains concentrated in certain health centers with established experience, alongside some more recent experiences at the primary and secondary levels of care. Only 22% of respondents reported that MVA is performed at their institutions. The main obstacles include lack of technical training, supervised practice, coordination with emergency services, and the availability of adequate recovery space and restroom facilities.
Regarding institutional support for healthcare teams providing abortion services, significant differences were observed between the capital city and the rest of the province. In the city of Córdoba, most professionals reported receiving “considerable” (55%) or “strong” (25%) support to provide IVE services. In contrast, the interior of the province presents a more uneven scenario: 90% of responses were distributed almost evenly among “strong,” “considerable,” and “limited” support, with lower levels of support particularly in the northern and western regions.
Institutional conflicts are concentrated mainly in pharmacy, emergency, and gynecology departments. A notable good practice identified is administrative diligence, which helps build internal alliances and foster trust by associating IVE teams with values such as transparency and responsibility.
Interviews confirm that institutional recognition of abortion services was neither automatic nor linear. The knowledge, commitment, and legitimacy of teams were built over time through sustained training, interdisciplinary work, consensus-building, and accumulated institutional experience.
Precarious hiring conditions undermine team stability and service sustainability. While permanent positions are concentrated in the capital, primary care centers in the interior rely mainly on independent contractor arrangements (monotributo), which also contribute to burnout among those who guarantee this right daily.
Persistent Barriers and Good Practices Sustaining Access
Although progress is evident, the mapping identifies structural barriers that continue to shape access, especially outside the capital. More than half of respondents indicated that users face transportation-related difficulties (52%), followed by staff shortages (41%), and obstacles in obtaining appointments and broader economic constraints (33.8%).
In terms of available resources, only 20% reported difficulties accessing medications, with mifepristone identified as the most problematic supply, followed by misoprostol. When supplies are lacking, 50% suspend the procedure and refer the patient elsewhere, while 43% file a formal complaint. This situation is mitigated by the institutional decision of both the provincial government and the municipal government of Córdoba to guarantee access to the procedure despite national-level cuts in medication distribution. The presence of feminist networks within healthcare spaces, administrative structures, and civil society organizations also plays a fundamental role in ensuring access.
Slightly more than half of respondents received specific training in IVE, with marked regional disparities.
The study also revealed instances of mistreatment toward service users: one-third of professionals identified such situations in their health centers, although underreporting is possible.
Conversely, good practices are widely extended in care for children and adolescents. However, challenges remain in providing care to LGBTIQ+ populations and people with disabilities, linked to difficulties in sustaining interdisciplinary approaches under current labor conditions.
A Collective Process in a Challenging Context
The presentation of this report takes place within a restrictive national scenario marked by the weakening of public policies and reduced funding for civil society organizations. In this context, reaffirming the validity of Law 27,610 and ensuring its institutionalization beyond changing administrations is crucial. The State, at all levels, is obligated to guarantee timely, dignified, and quality access to voluntary termination of pregnancy and to actively remove the barriers that hinder it.
Today, implementation is sustained by a historical network of feminist collectives, grassroots activism, social organizations, and the commitment of healthcare teams.
On December 9, at the Museum of Anthropology of the National University of Córdoba (UNC), Fundeps presented preliminary findings at the event “Access to Abortion in Córdoba: Perspectives and Resources for Strengthening It.” The gathering brought together feminist activists, healthcare teams, public officials, and civil society organizations. Key findings were shared, along with a digital resource guide for healthcare teams—featuring rights-based guidelines, publications, and audiovisual materials—and a communication campaign aimed at young users to strengthen access to clear, reliable, and timely information.
Sustained Commitments from Fundeps
Through its Gender and Diversity Area, Fundeps worked intensively throughout 2025 to strengthen sexual and (non-)reproductive rights, even amid a deep crisis for social organizations. Key initiatives included the Second Provincial Meeting of Health Professionals: “Networks of Commitment and Care: MVA Practice in Córdoba and Access to Abortion for Children, Youth, and Diverse Communities,” as well as MVA training sessions for healthcare teams in Santa Rosa de Calamuchita, Mina Clavero, and Del Campillo, in coordination with the Directorate of Adolescence, Youth, and Adulthood.
Additionally, the organization continued promoting Comprehensive Sexual Education (ESI) through workshops with secondary-level teachers and students, in collaboration with the ESI Diploma Program at the Faculty of Philosophy and Humanities and in coordination with the Unión de Educadores de la Provincia de Córdoba (UEPC).
A self-paced virtual course on access to legal abortion in Córdoba has also been developed and will be available starting in March 2026.
This work would not have been possible without collaboration with the Comprehensive Health Clinic Team, the Directorate of Adolescence, Youth, and Adulthood, the ESI Diploma Program of the Faculty of Philosophy and Humanities, La Casita Trans, UEPC, and the daily commitment of feminist activists and healthcare teams who often guarantee access anonymously.
The report we present is one more tool to continue strengthening networks and building joint strategies to defend a hard-won right.
We invite activists, healthcare teams, social organizations, public officials, and all those committed to strengthening abortion rights to read, share, and use this report as a resource for collective action.
Guaranteeing access to abortion is not only about complying with the law—it is about sustaining, every day, a public policy grounded in social justice and human rights.
Author:
Carola Bertona, carolabertona@fundeps.org
Contact:
Romina Pezzelato, romina.pezzelato@fundeps.org
More Than Labels: Legal Keys to Defending the Right to Adequate Food
The Law on the Promotion of Healthy Eating is a key public policy for advancing the human rights to adequate food and to health in Argentina. Its comprehensive design—grounded in scientific evidence and a human rights–based approach—positions it as a structural pillar of food policy and a central instrument for regulating the food environment and protecting the population, particularly groups in situations of greater vulnerability.
However, shortly after its implementation began, the law faced a scenario of regulatory regression. Resistance from the food industry, far from remaining at the level of public discourse, translated into regulatory flexibilizations and administrative decisions that weaken the protection standards defined by Congress. These measures, adopted by state bodies through lower-ranking regulations, jeopardize rights already secured and compromise the constitutional and international human rights obligations of the Argentine State.
Against this backdrop, More Than Labels: Legal Keys to Defending the Law on the Promotion of Healthy Eating is presented as both a collective endeavor and a strategic tool for the active defense of the Healthy Eating Law. The compendium brings together contributions from diverse authors who, drawing on complementary legal approaches, offer clear and actionable arguments to uphold the law’s full force and effect, demand its effective implementation, and challenge regressions at the political, institutional, and judicial levels.
The Healthy Eating Law as a Turning Point in Food Regulation
In her article, María Eugenia Marichal analyzes the Healthy Eating Law as a response to the historical fragmentation of food regulation in Argentina. She characterizes it as a “normative suturing” that articulates health, production, consumption, and food safety within a rights-based framework, and underscores the need to safeguard the State’s regulatory autonomy in public health against attempts at administrative deregulation and regional harmonization that prioritize commercial interests.
Healthy Eating Through a Human Rights–Based Approach
Maximiliano Carrasco examines the law through the lens of the Human Rights–Based Approach, linking it to the State’s constitutional and international obligations. His central argument is clear: the Healthy Eating Law embodies the principles of progressivity and non-regression, and any measure that lowers its standards triggers a presumption of illegitimacy that must be subject to strict scrutiny.
Courts as Arenas of Contestation
In their joint work, María Laura Fons Camarena and Agustina Mozzoni demonstrate how the Healthy Eating Law strengthens the judicial enforceability of the right to adequate food. By enhancing normative density, the law enables a shift beyond assistance-based approaches and opens the door to strategic litigation, positioning the Judiciary as a key barrier against corporate interference and regulatory rollback.
Environmental Justice Contributions to the Right to Food
Ananda María Lavayen advances an innovative reading that connects adequate food with the experience of environmental justice. Her article draws on tools such as broad standing, the dynamic burden of proof, and structural justice approaches, and argues that the full implementation of the Healthy Eating Law is a necessary condition for advancing the effective enforceability of this right.
The Healthy Eating Law and the Consumer Protection System
From a consumer law perspective, Dante Rusconi analyzes how the Healthy Eating Law integrates into the federal consumer protection system. His contribution highlights the strategic role of provinces and municipalities, which possess concrete powers to monitor compliance and impose sanctions, even in contexts of inaction or regression at the national level.
A Tool for Active Defense
Far from being a merely descriptive analysis, More Than Labels seeks to strengthen advocacy, litigation, and civic oversight capacities in a context marked by the weakening of public health policies. The publication reaffirms that defending the Healthy Eating Law is synonymous with defending the right to adequate food, public health, and the role of the State as a guarantor of rights.
Contact:
Maga Ailén Merlo Vijarra, magamerlov@fundeps.org
Much more than labels: Legal keys for the defense of the Law for the Promotion of Healthy Eating
In a context of regulatory setbacks that threaten public health policies, this legal compendium provides concrete tools to defend the Law for the Promotion of Healthy Eating. The publication brings together contributions from various authors who, from complementary legal perspectives, offer clear and actionable arguments to uphold its full validity, demand its effective implementation, and challenge setbacks in the political, institutional, and judicial spheres. A collective effort to strengthen the human right to adequate food in Argentina.
How can the IDB make a stronger contribution to a Just Energy Transition in Latin America and the Caribbean?
n 2024, civil society organizations from Latin America and the Caribbean participated in a dialogue space with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on Just Energy Transition. The report systematizes the main concerns raised by these organizations regarding the IDB’s role, including continued support for fossil fuels, the absence of clear goals, limited effective participation, and impacts on communities and environmental defenders. It also puts forward a set of recommendations aimed at advancing an energy transition grounded in social and environmental justice and a human rights–based approach.
Argentina and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: Characteristics of the First Loan Approved in the Country
This report, prepared by FARN, Fundeps, and Fundación CAUCE, analyzes the first financing approved by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Argentina and its socio-environmental implications. Drawing on the case of the wind power project in Tierra del Fuego, the document is key to understanding the challenges of international financing for the energy transition, as well as the importance of ensuring transparency, citizen participation, and adequate environmental standards.
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: Key Insights from the First Financing in Argentina
In September 2023, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) approved its first financing operation for Argentina, amounting to USD 65 million, aimed at the construction of a wind farm near Río Grande, in the province of Tierra del Fuego. This was the institution’s first project in the country since Argentina’s official accession to the AIIB in 2020.
However, despite its approval, the project was recently cancelled. The reasons for this decision include the lack of sovereign guarantees and a shift in the national political landscape following the inauguration of President Javier Milei in December 2023.
The analysis conducted by FARN, Fundeps, and Fundación CAUCE examines the project, its socio-environmental implications, and the challenges it poses in relation to international financing for the energy transition. In addition, the document offers a review of the AIIB’s role in the region and the institutional framework governing its involvement in infrastructure projects.
The case of the wind farm in Tierra del Fuego illustrates how the interplay between geopolitics and changes in national priorities can influence the implementation of strategic projects. It also underscores the importance of transparency, access to public information, and effective mechanisms for citizen participation, particularly when projects may generate impacts on protected natural areas, such as the Atlantic Coast Reserve, a Ramsar site of international importance for migratory birds.
This study builds on the ongoing monitoring work carried out by these organizations on international financial institutions operating in Latin America.
Update
After the document went to press, the AIIB officially cancelled the project due to the Argentine National State’s failure to provide the required sovereign guarantee.
Although this decision alters the project’s administrative status, it does not diminish the relevance of the analysis, which remains key to understanding how such financing mechanisms are structured, what standards apply, and the opportunities and tensions facing Argentina’s energy transition.
The official project information sheet is available at:
https://www.aiib.org/en/projects/details/2025/_download/Argentina/P000654-Argentina-Tierra-del-Fuego-Energy-Transition-Support-Project-PSI-Oct.-7-2025.pdf
A necessary debate on the energy transition
The AIIB’s experience in Argentina raises important questions about how to advance toward a just energy transition, supported by robust socio-environmental safeguards, effective citizen participation, and coherence between local needs and international commitments, as well as the role of multilateral development banks.
From our organizations, we continue to promote the production of public information, citizen oversight, and the defense of environmental rights as fundamental pillars of a transition that respects territories and communities.
Contact:
Gonzalon Roza, gon.roza@fundeps.org
Captured Youth: How the Tobacco Industry Seduces a New Generation
Smoking continues to be the leading cause of preventable death worldwide. Each year, it causes more than 7 million deaths, including 1.6 million resulting from involuntary exposure to smoke from tobacco and nicotine products. In order to survive, the tobacco industry requires new consumers—replacement smokers.
Within this context, we present the report “Captured Youth: Marketing and Psychology of the Tobacco Industry to Engage a New Generation,” a study that examines how the tobacco industry has managed to reposition products historically associated with addiction, disease, and death as symbols of enjoyment, belonging, and freedom among young people and adolescents.
In the report, Julián Pellegrini, Licentiate in Psychology (University of Buenos Aires) and Director of Project Squatters, explores the psychological techniques employed by tobacco marketing to exploit vulnerabilities characteristic of youth audiences. Drawing on insecurities, desires for belonging, and the pursuit of immediate gratification, the industry constructs strategies that transform these experiences into opportunities for expanding its business.
Far from disappearing, traditional advertising strategies have adapted to new formats. Today, the promotion of tobacco and nicotine products is disguised through social media, influencers, cultural events, aspirational aesthetics, and narratives of authenticity and enjoyment. They do not sell products; they sell identities, experiences, and lifestyles.
In this way, an addictive and lethal product is presented as an aesthetic accessory associated with modernity, success, and social acceptance. These sophisticated and opaque tactics enable the industry to evade existing regulations, reduce risk perception, and normalize consumption within the very spaces where youth identity is constructed.
The report’s focus is not only to denounce these practices, but also to understand their mechanisms: how perceptions are shaped, how the symbolic groundwork for early initiation is laid, and how these strategies challenge—and often surpass—current regulatory frameworks.
Understanding how tobacco industry marketing operates is a fundamental step toward strengthening public policies for tobacco prevention and control, protecting young people, and guaranteeing the right to health.
Contact:
Maga Ailén Merlo Vijarra, magamerlov@fundeps.org